Fire From the Sky: Trial by Fire

by N. C. Reed

  There. The man popped up over the machine and fired just as Titus did. Hit in the back, the shooter collapsed over the top of the appliance and was still. Another man stood up right beside him and took one step toward the house, but a single round cut him down. Titus could see Kade looking over the hood of the van and resisted the urge to wave.

  “I think that's it,” Gordy said. “Gimme a count, guys. We started with nine.”

  “Two,” Zach called out. The others followed him and soon Gordy realized that they had put down all nine of their targets.

  “Did anyone see more than nine?” he asked. No one had.

  “All right. Zach, cover us. Let’s sweep the yard and clear it. Ty, move to the family and cover them. Pancho, this is Chip. We're sweeping the area now, but we 'll need Doc as soon as we're done. One civie with a bullet to the leg.”

  “Copy that. Advise when it's clear for Doc.” Juarez might just as well have been giving a ball score.

  “Move it,” Gordy said simply and his friends emerged from cover to see the carnage they had wrought.

  -

  “It's not too bad,” Tandi told the man as he finished dressing the wound in his leg. “Bullet grazed you is all. It will be painful for a while but otherwise it won't be a problem. Keep it bandaged for a week, cleaning it out every day to prevent infection. Here's some antibiotic ointment to dress it with,” he handed the wife a small tube, a roll of sterile gauze and six 4x4 bandages.

  “Thank you,” she smiled weakly, still clutching her ruined clothes about her.

  “Who are you guys?” the man asked. “I'm Charles Talbot and this is my wife Dee.”

  “Just people trying to do what we can,” Tandi smiled. “You folks looked to be in a bad way so we, well they,” he pointed to where Gordy and the other teens were clustered around Juarez, “decided to help out. Any idea who that bunch was?”

  “None,” Talbot shook his head. “Claimed they represented some kind of committee or other and demanded our 'taxes'. I was honest, told them we had nothing to pay any sort of tax with, and that's when things turned ugly. Well, uglier. It was about to get much worse when you showed up.”

  “They really saved us,” he turned to look at the group of teens. “Had they been five minutes later we would have really been in trouble.”

  “Glad we came by then,” Tandi nodded, securing his bag and getting to his feet. Without another word he returned to the Hummer to store his medical bag. He had examined the wife and three kids and they were surprisingly healthy if a bit malnourished. He had given the mother a bottle of children's vitamins to give the kids. That would help keep their immune systems up and ensure they got enough nutrition at least for a few weeks.

  He had also given them a small basket of basic seeds to plant in a garden. While it wasn't any immediate help, it would feed them later on. Talbot had looked suitably grateful for such a gift, knowing what it was worth.

  Meanwhile, Gordy and the others were being debriefed by Jose Juarez.

  “Lot of fire for nine dead bad guys,” he noted, though he was in no way displeased.

  “Yeah,” several muttered replies were heard.

  “So . . . where did you screw up?” he asked.

  “I took my eyes off what we were doing,” Kade admitted at once. “It was stupid. I turned to tell Corey 'good job' and damn near got shot for it. That was all on me.”

  “We didn't really do things the way our training dictated,” Gordy sighed. “I threw this together too fast, for one thing. I split us to each side, which was a good plan, but I didn't plan anything past that point. After that it was pretty much everyone doing his own thing.”

  “We need to keep a long-range rifle in the Cougar for the turret,” Zach noted. “With a good scope and maybe a bi-pod. Once they were engaged, I couldn't use the Deuce and my M-4 ain't the best in the world for distance shooting where close counts.”

  “Saved me with it though,” Gordy clapped his friend on the shoulder. “That guy had me flat down, man.” He turned to Juarez.

  “Which is another thing I let happen,” he told their 'boss'. “I lost control of things and then lost sight of what we were doing. Again, that was on me.”

  Juarez continued to listen to the litany of confessions and smiled mentally. While they had made mistakes, they knew what all of them were. They had been paying attention.

  “Well, lets talk about what you did right,” he said finally. “You deployed well, taking the time to mount up outside where you were out of the line of fire. Your initial deployment into the firefight was also good, if a little hesitant. But that's to be expected first time out so that's okay. You definitely shot up too much ammo, but then again I don't see any real damage to the house and you didn't hit the civies, so again that's acceptable.”

  “You managed to save all of the civies, which is a big plus, and you also eliminated all of the Tangos, which is another big plus mark. You kept your cool under fire for the most part which is a huge plus in the win column, especially since you were on your own here. If this were the Army or some other service, your first engagement would normally be alongside experienced personnel and under experienced leadership. You handled things just fine, all other things considered. Police your gear and get ready to depart. We still have a patrol to finish.”

  The teens separated to gather dropped magazines and expended brass. They had already gathered weapons, gear and ammunition from the dead enemy and piled it near the Cougar for inspection. Juarez waved Talbot over to him and both the farmer and his wife made their way to him.

  “You folks have firearms?” Juarez asked.

  “No,” Talbot shook his head. “Always thought it was too dangerous with the kids so young,” he admitted.

  “I'd say you're over that concern at this point?” Jose asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes,” Mrs. Talbot nodded. “We are.”

  “Well, this is what they were carrying or was in their vehicle. You know how to shoot?”

  “I do,” Talbot nodded. “I'm not anti-gun or anything, I was just always hesitant to have firearms around my kids. I learned to shoot as a teenager. Rifle, shotgun and handgun.”

  “I don't, but I'm going to learn,” Dee Talbot assured Jose.

  “Good deal,” the former soldier nodded. “Well, take what you like from here,” he waved to the accumulated goods in front of the Cougar. “At least one rifle, one shotgun and one handgun. We 'll take the rest for others who don't have anything.”

  “I don't suppose we could go with you, could we?” Dee Talbot asked.

  “We don't have anywhere to go, ma'am,” Jose gave her the standard reply. “And no way to care for anyone, either. We can circulate your name and location to others who are trying to open trade, though. They have transportation for now, though I don't know how long that will last. There is also a group trying to create bio-diesel,” he nodded to the stationary tractor. “I assume you're out of fuel?”

  “Yeah,” Talbot nodded. “But the tractor won't run anymore anyway. When whatever happened... happened, it stopped right there and hasn't moved since. I took the fuel out for something else. I don't think that tractor is repairable. At least not now.”

  “Probably not,” Jose nodded. He had forgotten that not everyone still had working equipment. He had been about to offer the man a chance to get some fuel. It took getting used to.

  It all did.

  -

  “Was anybody else too scared to spit?” Kade asked as the six teens gathered up after policing after themselves.

  “Spit?” Titus snorted. “Hell, I could barely move I was so scared. Kicked the shit outta Gordy sliding under that ol' tractor I was moving so fast to get under cover. Saying 'please don't see me' over and over the whole time, too.”

  “This,” Kade fingered the hole in his shirt, “almost made me crap my pants. Wasn't for Corey I'd be dead, probably.”

  “It was only a second,” Corey nodded. “But that's all it takes. And you guys bailed
me out when those two had me bracketed. I couldn't move and couldn't get a shot. They had me.”

  “We all did what we had to do for each other,” Gordy spoke finally. “Well, except for Heath,” he had to rib his friend a bit. “He just sat there like a knot on a log.”

  “Har, har,” Heath had expected this and wasn't angered by it. “I was waiting for you guys to admit you were in over your head and ask a real man to help out,” he shot back, getting much grief in return.

  “Are we done?” Gordy asked when the ribbing died down. “Have we got what we came here with?”

  All answered affirmative as each teen had found all the magazines he had dropped during combat. They had probably missed a few brass, but no one expected miracles. And policing brass was only possible somewhere like this anyway. In a moving battle they wouldn't have had the chance to gather it up.

  “All right, get this stuff aboard and get reloaded,” Gordy ordered. They had spare magazines stored aboard the Cougar, already loaded. They could refill their gear with them and be ready for another engagement if it happened.

  “Get everything?” Jose asked as the group approached.

  “Pretty much,” Gordy nodded. “We're gonna refit right quick and then we can cart this bunch away,” he nodded to the bodies.

  “I been thinking about that,” Jose replied. “Once we get everything else settled, I got an idea.”

  “Okay.”

  -

  The men who had attacked the Talbot farm had come there in a working truck, an older model Ford. Jose was in a quandary about it. While it would be nice to leave it for the Talbots, doing so would make them suspect if anyone connected with the men who had attacked them saw the Talbots in the vehicle.

  At the same time, he was reluctant to abandon a working vehicle. In the end he had the teens pile the bodies in the back and ordered Kade and Titus to drive the truck back to the farm between the Cougar and the Hummer. The bodies could be added to the growing mass grave where such people ended up and the vehicle could be traded or given away to someone at some point, or else used around the farm.

  “We really can't thank you guys enough,” Talbot told the assembled teens. All of them were still masked, having never removed them lest the Talbots get a look at them.

  “Thank you all so much,” Dee Talbot gave each one a brief hug. “You saved us.”

  “Welcome ma'am,” much embarrassed teens mumbled, much to the enjoyment of Jose Juarez and Mitchell Nolan.

  “I think our work here is done,” Jose finally cleared his throat. “Let’s move.”

  “Load up!” Gordy ordered, still in command of the Cougar. “Kade, you guys fall in behind us.”

  “Got it,” Kade nodded as he and Titus headed for the truck.

  “Not a bad day’s work,” Mitch said as he and Jose also mounted up.

  “Not too bad at all,” Jose agreed. “Not at all.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  -

  “You think it was a good idea to turn those kids loose like that?” Gordon asked as he and Clay took a break from working the fence lines around the ranch.

  “What do you mean?” Clay asked, taking a drink from the water jug they shared. “They're at least as well trained as I was my first time out.”

  “You didn't go out alone like that did you?” Gordon raised an eyebrow.

  “They ain't alone,” Clay shook his head. “Jose, Tandi and Mitch are right there with them.”

  “And Gordy is in charge?” Gordon pressed.

  “You want someone else leading them?” Clay challenged back. “This land, this farm is ours,” he stressed. “I want one of us in command. Right now, it's me. Tomorrow I could buy it and then what? Hell, today ain't over as far as that goes. I have to make sure we have people able to take over when something happens to us. If nothing else we're all gonna die of old age. Well, hopefully anyway.”

  Gordon paused to consider that and nodded slowly. Yes, he wanted his family to maintain control of the farm. Four generations were working that land even now. He didn't want to see that change.

  “Anyway, Gordy has more experience than his friends and is at least as well trained if not better,” Clay went on. “He's the natural choice to lead them. They all look to him anyway.”

  “I suppose that's true,” Gordon sighed. “I just don't like the idea of kids so young being put in a place where they might have to-”

  “I was eighteen when I was in my first gun battle,” Clay was getting tired of reminding people of this. “At their age their reflexes are faster and their bodies stronger. There will never be a better time for them. Take if from me. From eighteen it just gets harder.”

  “You had been trained by the Army, too,” Gordon rebutted.

  “And they've been trained by someone far better than the Army,” Clay shot right back. “The men who trained them are as keen and knowledgeable as they come. Far better to be trained by people who know what works and doesn't than be trained by someone who was 'taught' what works and what don't. Do you trust a hobby farmer more than a professional one?”

  Gordon didn't have an answer for that one and remained quiet. It seemed he and his son could never have one of these discussions without it turning into an argument. He was honest enough to admit it was mostly his fault. For some reason the actions of his youngest son often irked him even as Gordon recognized that those same actions must be taken.

  He put it down to Leon's blood running in his veins. Bear poking was something of a specialty for Gordon's father. Not to mention his favorite hobby.

  “Do you think this weather will last?” he tried to calm the situation by changing the subject.

  “I almost hope it doesn't, bad as I hate to say it.” Clay accepted the unnamed olive branch and let the argument die. “So long as the weather is bad the traffic is lower. With warmer weather we 'll see more people out and about. Them that survived anyway,” he added darkly.

  “That's a harsh attitude,” Gordon tried to sound civil instead of condemning.

  “Well, someone has to face the truth around here,” Clayton sighed tiredly. “Not all of us can just keep pretending that nothing happened and we're all fine.”

  “That's not what I'm doing!” Gordon snapped, the fragile, momentary truce destroyed.

  “No, of course not,” Clay's sarcasm was heavy. “You're just refusing to see how things have changed, that's all. Oh, wait, isn't that what I just said?”

  “I'm glad you can see things so black and white, Clayton, since you think the rest of us can't see nothing at all!”

  “It's not that you can't see it, Dad,” Clayton shook his head slowly. “It's that you won't.”

  “I can see just as well as yo-” Gordon's retort stopped as the sound of heavy vehicle engines could be heard approaching.

  “Sounds like Gordy and them are back,” Clay said, grateful for the interruption. “Let’s go see how they did.”

  Gordon followed in silence, still trying to figure a way to talk to his youngest son.

  -

  “Take the truck out to the pits,” Jose ordered over the radio. “We 'll have someone get the backhoe and meet you there.”

  “Got it,” Kade waved and continued on behind the collection of buildings that made up their home and base of operations.

  “I 'll get Uncle Ronny,” Gordy said as he stepped down off the Cougar.

  “All right,” Jose nodded. He could see Clay approaching with his father. “Guess we 'll brief the boss.”

  “How'd it go?” Clay asked.

  “Tangled with a bunch that was attacking the Talbot family,” Jose informed him. “Gordy led the engagement. Did a good job. Took down all nine with no losses. Man of the family took a round from the raiders but Tandi treated him. Minor wound to the leg, should be all right. We brought the bodies and their vehicle. Kade took them out to the pit and Gordy went to get Mister Tillman and his backhoe. I didn't want to leave a working truck behind or unused, but I was afraid the Talbots might suffer if
they got caught with it so I brought it with us.”

  “Gordy did okay?”

  “He made the same mistakes we did,” Jose shrugged. “But he got the job done and didn't lose anyone. We already went over the immediate problems with them and they finished the patrol. It was kinda strange. Other than that one family and their attackers, we didn't see a single soul.”

  “I imagine some were hiding, don't you?” Clay asked.

  “Almost certainly,” Jose nodded. “Other than what we found there, nothing looked out of sorts. One house that looked to have burned down since the Event, a few cars left where they died, that kind of thing. No bodies, though,” he mused as if thinking of it the first time.

  “In this case that's not so odd,” Clay pointed out. “Anyway, you guys get some rest and some chow. We 'll talk more later on.”

  “Just as soon as we finish,” Jose nodded and went to take care of the rest of their duties. Gordon watched him go before speaking.

  “Just kill nine men and drop 'em in the ground,” he said softly. “At their age.”

  “Better get used to it,” Clay said coldly. “Worse is coming, I promise you. This is nothing.”

  “How do you know?” Gordon demanded. “Where have you seen this before?”

  “You do realize that outside American and Western Europe, and select parts of Asia like Japan and Hong Kong or maybe Singapore, most of the world survives and functions worse off than we are right now, right?” Clay turned to face his father.

  “And?”

  “And, I've been in those places,” Clay fought not to grit his teeth. “I've seen this before. Not just like this, no. It's going to be worse here. Much worse.”

  “Why?” Gordon asked.

  “We have better educated people, better trained people would probably be more accurate, and we have more modern weaponry. Not to mention we're spoiled. We're used to our comfort. And when we don't have it we 'll turn mean. It 'll be nasty, Pop. You can count on it. That's why I don't relish good weather like the rest of you,” he turned to head home for lunch. “Because I know what's coming with it.”

  Gordon watched him go in silence. There wasn't anything to add to that anyway.